Pope Francis Is Heading to the Big Screen

Pope Francis I has transformed into a media darling since becoming pontiff earlier this year, gaining both praise and criticism for his outspokenness about a number of issues facing the Catholic Church. But now His Holiness is set to play an entirely different role: biopic subject.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that there are currently two films in production that center around the life of Pope Francis. One, out of the pope's native Argentina, will focus on his life as a young priest, when he was still known by his birth name, Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The movie, written and directed by Alejandro Agresti ("The Lake House"), will be called "Historia de un cura" ("History of a Priest"), and star Rodrigo de la Serna ("The Motorcycle Diaries") as the young Bergoglio.

Meanwhile, in Germany, writer and producer Christian Peschken is working on a $34 million feature about Pope Francis called "Friend of the Poor."

Pope Francis was selected in March following the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI, the first pope to resign since the 15th century. That storyline alone would make a compelling narrative for any biopic, though it seems these currently in-development projects will focus more closely on Pope Francis's life before he became pontiff.

Either way, the films should appeal to the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. If even a fraction of those faithful turn out to see them, expect more movies about His Holiness in a theater near you soon.